A/N: Me and deadlines do not get along.

Chapter X

Good Morning, Fire Nation

Katara was watching with dreamy eyes. It was one of those best things in the world. The current Fire Lord and his lady went through so much before they could be together. Indeed, unlike her and Aang there was a villain, a vile being, standing between them. That creature made them fall in love only to exploit their relationship and then, as the evil thing it was, used one to kill the other. But alas, the antagonist plan did fell apart and love conquered all.

Which made the Princess role in this, a bridesmaid of all things, all the weirder, but as far as Katara was concerned the Fire Nation royal family was little messed up, so she didn't question it too much. Or the fact that right now Azula and Toph were cracking jokes. Or that she had to be nice to the princess that not only attempted, but put her boyfriend and one of her closest friend on a death bed.

But then again, the water bender wasn't the vengeful type, she got railed up easy, shouted and forgot everything on the next day, that's how she was. She didn't want to see people suffer, so if the villain got herself a happy ending, well, she didn't mind at all. If everyone was happy, then there would be no problems on this earth.

"I do." She heard Zuko's voice.

For a moment she wondered what would happen if Mai refused. She imagined the scenario. The gloomy girl says no, Suki, Sokka and Ty Lee watch in shock, she'd probably burst in tears, Aang would wonder why, Azula would be jumping with joy, the Firelord's mother would probably turn red from the humiliation and most of the people would wonder what's going on, before some slick gentleman shows up and confesses his love to the bride.

"I do." Came the deadpanned response.

Alright, Katara had to admit, she had been reading too much romantic stories lately.

- 1 week, 2 days prior -

Azula frowned, when she got up this morning this was the last thing she expected. No, actually, she did not expect this; it was so alien, so out of her world, that it's very existence left her bewildered. Not to mention how she, a princess of the Fire Nation, the empire that almost ruled the world, got herself in this predicament. Truthfully, it was her fault that this was happening, there were issues she considered trivial, beneath her, and thus neglected them, obviously when you do something like that this happens.

"What is this?" She finally asked, poking it several times as to try and understand its nature.

"Mashed eggs." Her brother reply.

Seriously, here they were, the Fire Lord, the most powerful man in the world, his fiancé, the mother of the grates woman to ever grace this earth and the perfect, deadly, beautiful, born-once-in-a-thousand-generations conqueror of Ba Sing Se and they were eating...mashed eggs? Was it strange that she was the only one surprised? Sure, Mai not giving a reaction was expected, but her brother and maternal parent were eating it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"So let me get this straight." She tried to make sense of the situation. "Someone got eggs, mashed them and then decided that it's a worthy breakfast for the royal family?"

Everyone was glaring at her.

"How does that work really? If we are going to-"

"Azula." Mai tried to cut in.

"-have a royal cook, why not eat something decent. If-"

"Azula." Her friend tried again.

"-we are going to eat peasant food, we might as well start making our own beds."

"Azula." Third time's the charm.

"I'm just saying, let the peasantry eat-"

Mai decided to just say it outright "Your mother cooked this."

"-whatever silly foods they eat, we have MASHED EGGS! This thing is genius, really, mother, you are the only person in the world who can make something so...powerful...out of simple eggs." The Princess was now nodding her head in agreement with herself. "Oh, sometime we should trade cooking secrets. You can tell me how to make this mashed eggs and I'd...alright so I don't know how to cook. But the point is, that you've prepared this wonderful meal for us and I cannot say how much I love you for it."

For a moment Ursa dwelled on whatever or not to take on her daughter on the offer to teach her how to cook, and had she been more gullible she would have tried, but the former Fire Lady knew when her little girl was polite and when she was genuine…most of the times. This was polite, trying to put the princess in the kitchen would be an exercise in futility, not that it wouldn't be worth it.

"Where is Uncle anyway?" Azula snapped Ursa out of her little dilemma.

"Oh, "The Firelord jumped in the conversation "He left yesterday morning via an air transport."

The Princess eyes narrowed.

"Why wasn't I informed of this?"

Her brother returned a smile.

"The dirigibles are a little too expensive to suffer "unfortunate incidents by unknown circumstances"

"What was that supposed to mean?"

Before anyone could intervene Ursa stepped in.

"Azula, I noticed you finished your eggs, would you like some more?"

Turning her head as fast as the lightning she proudly controlled, the princess looked at her mother, straight in the eyes and without flinching responded "Of course mother, they are delicious."

Mai couldn't hold it anymore, she smiled a little.

"So Mai," The older woman began "How are the preparations for your bridal dress coming along?"

"As expected." She had been delaying this as long as possible, truthfully she couldn't do it anymore, no matter how much she wished to. "Today the tailor is putting the finishing touches."

"Mind if I come along?" Her future mother-in-law responded.

Sensing to where the winds were blowing Azula started to make her retreat. She was not being dragged into this, not while breathing, not while being able to walk on two legs. Her plan was simple – run away from the tailors and when the time comes just done in your military uniform. Yes, military uniforms went well with everything. She gave herself a mental thumbs up and…

"Azula how is your bridal dress coming along?" Her mother asked.

Curses, foiled again!

"It is currently…" She began before being cut off by her friend.

"She hasn't started it yet."

The former Firelady gave a warm and somewhat mischievous smile. The type of smile that made babies laugh with joy, birds sing, people cheer and hearts melt, it also sent shivers down Azula's spine. The day had just started and things had already gone terribly wrong.

There really wasn't much to talk about with Zuko. The first few days they were catching up on the years they've missed, sharing stories and enjoying each other presence, the latter part still present, but the former was not. Now the Firelord was mostly complaining about his life or the people he had to work with, or his sister on the occasions Azula decided to be Azula. Lady Ursa was aware of this habit her son had and it did bothered her, not because she was unwilling to offer support, or because she was annoyed by it, those were definitely not the cases, but because her son had to become paragon to the Fire Nation, in soul as well as in appearance. Of course in moderation, otherwise if you bottle everything up you might end up chained to the ground, crying and spewing fire from your mouth, before being shipped to an asylum.

Still, Zuko had to feel himself as the savior of this nation, not just play the part, and as much as her son wouldn't admit it, he didn't felt like it. He was confused, overwhelmed and as much as he tried to cover it, he was starting to crack under pressure. Ursa did not want to see that happen. Her little girl did so, and for her great shame she was not there to help her when she was needed, this was not something that would become a family tradition, not if the former Firelady had anything to say.

Unfortunately things weren't moving as she wished. First of all, Zuko was too preoccupied to even engage in any activity with her, he was so for the last few days. Then even if he was she wouldn't know what to do. If Ursa was the type of person to know how to do put steel in some ones gut, forge strength, elevate talent any of that or even if she knew how to deal with people like that, the rift between her and her daughter wouldn't exist. She had other strengths, yes, but not what was needed. Fortunetly she knew people who do, the catch – they were Azula and Ozai. Her husband, or former husband when the documents were done, was out of the question, which left the Princess.

So basically Ursa had to ask Azula to teach Zuko how to man up.

There was no way that could end well.

But one thing at a time, right now she had other issues to address.

There were three women in the room. One of them, the oldest one, was sitting in a chair, a younger lady, much younger, was dressed in white, surrounded by tailors who were trying their best to modify the mock-up dress they had clad the girl in, was trying her hardest to tolerate the situation. An even younger girl, not by much, was surrounded by several people as well, but they were just taking measurements, while another was showing her pictures.

Azula looked at the design of the dress. She had a good idea on who to blame for that. A really good idea who to blame, probably a certain acrobat-turned-Kyioshi Warrior, an overhyped individual with a disastrous taste in fashion. Someone who is probably cartwheeling on fans right now. Yes, that sounded like the one responsible. This design was unacceptable.

"It's pink." She said, eyeing the older girl.

Mai nodded.

"Why is it pink?" Just to reaffirm her suspicions.

"Ty Lee insisted."

"Well, I disagree, make it red."

Mai smiled.

"Ty Lee had first dibs."

"Well, I overrule her decision."

"You can't."

"What do you mean I can't, I'm the Princess?"

"I agree with her and I hold a higher position than you."

"What?"

Being a Firelady, well, a future Firelady, had its perks. Being married to Zuko? Nice. Commanding the Fire Nation? Awesome. Rolling in wealth? Dreamy. Rubbing your superiority in Azula's nose and having a payback for a childhood of bullying? Priceless.

"Come on darling." Lady Ursa jumped in. "Everyone wants to see you in pink."

Oh, so that's how it is, gang up on the poor, insane girls.

"No."

"It's Mai's wedding."

"No."

"Your friend, Ty Lee, wished for something more cheerful."

"How about I cheer up her world?"

"Azula!"

Mai wasn't even bothered by the tailors anymore. At their first session, she hated them, at the second, she despised them, but right now? She didn't even notice them. Her mind was in another place, she was smiling inwards and why not? She was right, the princess, for all her failings, spiced up life; she should thank Zuko for helping her friend someday. Honestly, just like before Omashu, she'd forgotten how good life was with that brat.

Yes, she would definitely thank her future husband later.

One thing Azula did not expected on her desk – a letter.

It had no name associated with it, no return address and no destination. She didn't leave it there and servants were forbidden to enter her office, an order they would not disobey. They wouldn't dare, even the bravest soul, herself excluded, within the palace wouldn't dare.

Of course Mai would, but the whole "prank war" thing was behind them, so she doubted that was one of those things.

Well then, it would be a shame to let this brave soul's effort go to waste.

Fire Lord Azula,

Now Azula knew this would be good.

I am a patriot, a man of Agni's spirit. I am also a man of great justice, valor and virtue, as such I write to you with a plea. Take up arms against the traitor, reclaim your throne and spread the virtue of our great nation across the world.

There is much to say, but alas, a letter is not enough. Meet me in two days, I shall await you in the old Fire Nation Intelligence Headquarters.

Your faithful supporter.

As far as Azula was concerned, this was nice and everything, but first thing first – how did that guy snuck in? The door was locked, the secret passage wasn't used and even the window was still...the window was unlocked. Alrigh, how did he enter through the window?